Te Reo o Te Kāuta – Māori Women, Food Sovereignty and Te Reo Māori: Bush to the Table.
More than 20 wāhine Māori from three marae in Bay of Plenty and Waikato gathered for the Wāhine Patu Mīti wānanga to learn meat handling and cutting skills in a unique te reo Māori setting over the past year.
The group consisted of cooks from their respective marae who took the opportunity to learn how to cut various types of animal meat, prepare specific cuts of meat, and find out about safety and sanitation. Workshops were held at three locations: Te Rewarewa Marae in Ruatoki, Ruaihona Marae in Te Teko, and Ōngāroto Marae in Ātiamuri.
The workshop goals were achieved by involving kaumātua and butchery experts, who demonstrated and supported the less experienced in the meat-cutting process, fostering unity among the generations in a shared learning environment. This hands-on experience strengthened community empowerment and understanding, as participants learned the proper practice of “food sharing” and traditional skills for the first time. Through these activities, many came to recognise the significance of acquiring cultural skills and deepening their connection to the community.
Wāhine Patu Mīti offered various opportunities for participants to use, learn, and speak te reo by immersing them in a Māori-speaking environment during the workshops. Through hands-on activities like cooking and food preparation, participants had the chance to learn more than 20 new Māori words related to these tasks. They enhanced their language skills within cultural contexts, gaining the ability to listen, engage, and use the Māori language in authentic settings. Additionally, by interacting with other reo Māori speakers at the marae, they were able to support and encourage each other to use the language confidently and naturally.
Regional dialects relevant to the context of the marae were incorporated, such as the idioms and specific phrases unique to the local iwi and marae. These were used consistently in conversations and were emphasised by the speakers, reinforcing the strong connection between language and local identity.
The wāhine engaged in education to better understand the language and cultural practices that contribute to their well-being. All have eagerly put forth requests to go on to the training sessions in various parts of the country to learn from other Māori women.
